Pakistan World Cup to be reviewed by ICC following terror attacks

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has cast doubt over Pakistan's chances of
co-hosting the 2011 World Cup following the terror attack on the Sri Lanka
team saying is it difficult to see international cricket being played there
in the foreseeable future.

Fourteen games are due to be played in Pakistan during the tournament to be co-hosted alongside India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but following the terrorist attack in Lahore, the ICC have said the situation will now be reviewed.

Lorgat said: "I think it is difficult to see international cricket being played in Pakistan in the foreseeable future.

"I think it will be very challenging for us to be convinced that Pakistan would be a safe venue.

ICC president David Morgan shared Lorgat's assessment saying the board would meet in April to reconsider the circumstances.

Insisting that the security of the players, officials and fans was of paramount importance, Morgan said: "[The] ICC Cricket Cup is due to be staged in the Indian sub-continent, shared between four countries. That is the current plan.

"The board will be meeting in April and will consider the ICC Cricket World Cup in a great deal of detail. The board will have to think very carefully about the extent to which Pakistan will be used for that event.

"It's a very important event but safety and security of players, officials and supporters is very important. The board will be taking that into account.

"There is an organising committee chaired by Sharad Pawar, vice-president of the ICC, and you can be certain that he and his team will be engaged on the very topic that you referred to immediately."

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said his country's hopes of co-hosting the tournament are now a "distant dream".

"How do you expect foreign teams to come to Pakistan now? We took pride in hosting our guests," he told ESPN. "This image has taken a beating. It's sad for Pakistan."